The Garage Theatre Group Wants You!

From  humble beginnings in a Tenafly garage in 1993 and  performances wherever space could be found to the past ten years in residence at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Bergen County's Garage Theatre Group celebrates its twentieth anniversary season in September.

Known for quality Youth Conservatory productions and  professional seasons of "serious, difficult and rewarding theatre" (Bob Rendell, Talkin' Broadway), the Garage Theatre Group will kick off the 2012-2013 season with a free dessert reception for supporters on Thursday, September 13th at 7:30pm at the Becton Theatre at 960 River Road in Teaneck.   The theme:  "The Garage Theatre Wants You!".  Theatre fans will learn how they can help the Garage thrive in a difficult time for professional theatre all over the country.

The season opens with Imagining Madoff by Bergen County playwright Deborah Margolin, a gripping play about an imaginary encounter between convicted Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff and one of his clients, an Elie Wiesel -like character who lost his life savings when the Madoff empire collapsed.  Imagining Madoff attracted international notoriety in 2010, when Elie Wiesel, then the other main character, pronounced it "obscene" and "defamatory", causing Ms. Margolin to create a composite character as Madoff's foil.  Imagining Madoff will be performed in late October and early November and Ms. Margolin will attend many of the talkbacks between audience and cast members which follow each professional production at the Garage.

The first Youth Conservatory production of the season is the Gilbert and Sullivan classic operetta, The Pirates of Penzance, a romp through the lives of a band of tender-hearted pirates and their ex-apprentice who falls in love with the daughter of a well-known "Modern Major General".  A success since its first performance in 1879, Pirates returns to the Garage after a successful run in 2006.  The Pirates of Penzance will be performed over two weekends, December 7-9 and 14-16.  Auditions for  Pirates will be held September 8 and 9.

GTG Founder and Artistic Director Michael Bias  has directed and produced more than 47 plays and musicals, including several world premieres at the Garage,  Billie, More Than A Soap Opera, Summer of Love (all of which he co-wrote) and Meester Amerika.  He has developed a pilot theatre and arts program for adults with Aspergers Syndrome. Mr. Bias conducts acting classes for youth and adults through The Garage Theatre Group year-round and also teaches acting at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

The Garage Theatre Group is a 501( c ) 3 not for profit professional theatre. Funding comes from Fairleigh Dickinson University and from our supporters.   The Garage Theatre Group is a senior member of The New Jersey Theatre Alliance, the consortium of professional theatres in the state of New Jersey.